Cabinet

ABSTRACT

A cabinet suitable for hospital room use including a pivotally connected support bracket adapted to support the cabinet in spaced relation to the floor and allow pivotal movement between a plurality of positions of use.

- United States Patent 1191 Damico et a1.

[ Feb. 26, 1974 CABINET Inventors: Frank .1. Damien, Cincinnati, Ohio;

William H. Stein, Jr., Batesville, lnd.

Hill-Rom Company, Inc., Batesville, lnd.

Filed: May 1, .1972

Appl. No.: 249,225

Assignee:

us. (:1. 312/209, 312/251 1111. c1 A47b'8l/00 Field of Search...312/202, 209, 251, 252, 325,

.[56] A A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,968 12/1968 Cohonet al. 312/248 2.019.054 10/1935 1.212.028 1/1917 Bowling 312/251 X953,205 3/1910 Hugh es 312/320 2,315,927 4/1943 131111111 312/2483,191,898 6/1965 McCullough 248 299 x 2,589,370 3/1952, Grennan 248/282X 3,542,429 11/1970 lnoue et al..... 248/208 x 3,462,102 8/1969 Rwers248/284 x Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam I57] ABSTRACT A cabinetsuitable for hospital room use including a pivotally connected supportbracket adapted to support the cabinet in spaced relation to the floorand allow pivotal movement between a plurality of-positions of use.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Manz 312/248 CABINET BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relatesto an article of furniture Mostparticularly, it relates to a cabinet particularly suitable for use in ahospital room as a patient care facility.

Hospital room patient furniture typically includes a cabinet adjacentthe hospital bed which received the patients personal articles, andother articles required for patient care and hygiene. These cabinets areoften Patent No. 83,762, filed Oct. 26, 1970 entitled HOSPI- TALIN-PATIENT SERVICE UNIT. The modular unit there disclosed is a unitarypackageof essential patient care facilities. It is designed to reduceconstruction costs and yet provide all needed services. This new concepthas completely revolutionized design concepts for hospital constructionand rennovation.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide an improved bedsidecabinet compatible with the unitized service facilities disclosed in theaforementioned application for patent. v

Another major consideration in the'development of the present invention.is sanitation. Furniture is normally supported upon the floor on legswhich interfere with the cleaningprocess and renders areas difficult toclean. It is an important object of the present invention to provide animproved form of bedside cabinet which is supported in position for useabove the floor and which allows easy cleaning of the floor area.

In addition, it is another object to provide such a cabinet whichis-movable between a plurality of positions of use.

SUMMARY OF TI-IE INVENTION Very generally, thepresent invention includesa cabinet-suitable for use in hospital room patientcare service whichincludes a pivotally connected support bracket adaptedto support thecabinet in spaced relation to the floor and which allows limited pivotalmovement thereof between a plurality of positions of use.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinetembodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view of a portion of ahospitalservice unit associated with the cabinet of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is asideelevational view partially in section illustrating the connectionbetween the cabinet shown inFlG. 1 and the hospital service unit shownin FIG. 2.

- FIG. 4 is a side elevationalview of the cabinetof FIG. l takenin thedirection of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is afragmentary bottom view of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrateda cabinet generally designated 10 which is illustrative of the featuresof the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 10 is supported by a bracket12 upon a side section 13 of a hospital room service unit 14 of the typedescribed in the previously mentioned application for patent.

The unit 14 is associated with a patient bed 11 and the cabinet isdisposed adjacent the side of the bed for access.

The bracket 12 supports the cabinet above the floor and allowseasycleaning of the area. The cabinet 10 and bracket 12 are pivotallyconnected to allow the cabinet to be moved between a plurality ofpositions.

The cabinet may be associated with other forms of support structures.For example, the bracket 12 may be connected directly to a wall of aroom, or to a specially constructed post. The arrangement describedherein is merely for illustrative purposes.

The cabinet 10 includes a top '15, bottom 17, side walls 19 and back 21,and a frame 23 extending about the front and back peripheries. Thesecomponents are secured together to form a'cabinet structure. Thisparticular cabinet illustrated is disclosed in an application for UnitedStates Letters Patent of even date filed in the names of FRANCIS J.BURST and DONALD W. TURNER, entitled CABINET CONSTRUCTION. Of course,any suitable cabinet construction may be used with the support bracketsof the present invention.

The cabinet 10 of the illustrated embodiment also includes a drawer 25,a plastic tray 27 and an electric and electronic component 29. Suitableelectronic and electric and communication conductors are connected tothe cabinet through connector cable 31. This cable in the illustratedembodiment; is connected to the service unit through a suitable plugshown inFIG. 3.

The outer edges of the side section of the hospital service unit 13 bestseen in FIG. 2 is provided with a trim strip in the form of an extrudedchannel 33 with an inlaid decorative veneer 34 disposed between thechannel webs. This strip overliesa vertical structure member 35 which ispart of the framework of the unit.

In order to accept the bracket 12, the side section structural member 35isprovided with a pair of spaced apart apertures 36 disposed above thelower end of the side section a distance approximately equal to thevertical length of the bracket. Itis further provided with an aperture39 adjacent the lower end of the side section. The trim is provided withappropriate apertures to allow access to the vertical structural memberat these locations, and the veneer 34 is terminated above the apertures36. g j

The bracket 12 includes a hanger portion 41 and a cabinet portion 43.The hanger portion includes a generally vertical structural tube 46providing a control surface engaging the trim of the'side section 13. Apair of spaced apart hooks 47 extend 'generallyoutwardly and slightlyabove the surface 46. The hooks define contact surfaces 49 which aregenerally parallelto the" channel portion surface 46 and spacedoutwardly approximately the thickness of the trim and verticalstructural member 35.

With the hanger portion in position upon the side section 13, thesurface 46 is in abutting contact with the trim of thesidesectionintermediate thewebs and the hooks 47 extend through theapertures 36 with the 3 contact surface 49 in contact with the innersurface of the vertical structural member 35.

' The hanger portion 41 is attached by first inserting the hooks 47 intothe apertures 36 and then swinging the channel into abutting contactwith the trim channel 33.

A bolt 50 extends through an appropriate aperture into the aperture 39of the structural member 35 to retain the hanger portion in position. Ahigh pressure laminate strip 51 is provided to match the high pressurelaminate of the side section trim.

The hanger portion further includes a pair of spaced apart supports 52extending outwardly of the channel 45 away from the side section 13 ofthe service unit 14. They are spaced apart approximately the verticalheight of the cabinet 10. Each defines a bushing aperture 53 adapted forpivotal connection to the cabinet portion 43 of the bracket.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the outer edge of the lowermost support 52includes a generally semi-circular end provided with a plurality of camnotches 55. These notches include a notch 57 near the edge of thesupport facing the bed, and a stop notch near theopposite edge.

The cabinet portion of the bracket 12 includes a vertical strip 61 and avertical bottom channel 63. The vertical strip 61 is secured to thecabinet side wall 19and extends generally normally outwardly to definean upper flange 65 adjacent the top of the cabinet 10. The lower end of.the vertical strip 61 is secured to the bottom channel 63 as by.welding or the like.

The bottom channel 63 includes a central web 67 secured to the bottomwall 17 of the cabinet and to the vertical strip 61. It extendsoutwardly of the cabinet adjacent the bottom to define a lower flange69. Both flanges 65 and 69 include hinge pins 71 adapted to be pivotallysecured in the backing apertures 53 of the hanger portion 41 topivotally support the cabinet. The bottom channel 63 includes twoperipheral depending webs 73 along the longitudinal edges of thechannel. Intermediate these webs there is provide a spring loadedpivotally mounted cam roller assembly 75.

The cam roller assembly 75 includes a lever 77 including a long arm 79and a curved arm 81 substantially shorter than the arm 79. The arms areat approximately a 1 10 angle although this angle could varysubstantially. I

The lever 77 is pivoted to the channel 63 by a pivot screw 83 located atthe junction of the arms 81 and 79. This screw is located adjacent thedepending web along the edge opposite the web facing'the bed. A tensionspring 85 is connected between the end of the long arm 79 opposite thepivotal connection to the channel 67 and the front web 63 facing thebed. The spring retains the long arm 79 generally parallel to the webs63. A plurality of apertures 87 are provided in the arm 79 to allowadjustment of the spring effectiveness.

The free end of the curved arm 81 is provided with t a cam roller 89rotatably supported on screw 90. The roller, best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6is disposed in rolling engagement with the edge of the support 52 of thehanger portion which define cam notches 55.

The lever includes a link 91 which extends between the pivot screw 83and the screw 90 to provide structural support for the cam roller 89.The lever 77 is positioned such that the tension spring releasably urgesthe cam roller into engaging contact with the edge of the support 52defining the cam notches 55. The pivotal connection of the lever and thespring allows the lever to pivot as the roller 89 moves from notch tonotch under external applied force. However, the spring is sufficientlystrong to hold the roller in a given notch to steady the cabinet in agiven pivotal position.

The normal operative position of the cabinet 10 is with the frontalsurface facing toward the bed. In this position, the cabinet interiorand the electric, electronic and communication contacts are most easilyaccessible t0 the patient. In this position, the cam roller 89 is innotch 57. The notch is elongated to allow slight rocking movement of thecabinet as it reaches this position. This absorbs momentum and minimizespossible distrubing movement of articles upon or in the cabinet.

The notch 57 includes a stop surface 570 and also defines a ramp surfacewhich urges the roller away from the stop notch 57a.

The step notch notch 59 is sized to present a strong restraining forceagainst further movement of the cam roller 89. This is necessary sinceat this position, the cabinet has swung to a position where the sidewall 19 is adjacent the side section 13 of the service unit 14. Furthermovement could damage either or both surfaces through inadvertentcontact.

In the illustrated embodiment a leg 93 is provided to assist insupporting the load present at the hinged connection between the hangerportion and cabinet portion of the bracket 12. However, the leg is notconsidered essential as the components possess sufficient strength tosupport the cabinet weight independently of the leg. The illustrated legis only to show a possible variation. I

As can be appreciated, a free standingcabinet has been provided which ispivotal between a plurality of positions of use.

Various features of the present invention have been particularly shownand described. However, it must be appreciated that numerousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is: j

1. A'pivotally supported cabinet adapted for limited pivotal movementbetween a plurality of positions'of use comprising; a cabinet structure,a bracket adapted to pivotally support said cabinet structure, saidbracket including a cabinet portion secured to said cabinet structureand a hanger portion adapted to be secured to a wall, a cam formed onsaid hanger portion defining a plurality of notches, and a resilientlymounted follower means secured to said cabinet portion in resilientcontact with said cam notches to releasably retain said cabinet in saidplurality of positions of use, opposite end notches of said camincluding a stop to'prevent the movement of said follower means out ofeach said end notch in one direction to define the limits of pivotalmovement of said cabinet, one of said end notches further including aramp releasably retaining said follower means at a position in said oneend notch spaced from said stop to allow slight movement of saidfollower means toward said stop while said cabinet is in said positionof use defined by said one end notch.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hanger portion includesa vertical channel defining a contact surface at least one hook extendsoutwardly and upwardly of said surface at the upper end of said pivotpins pivotally supported in said bearing apertures,

4. A cabinet as claimed in-claim 1 wherein said cabinet portion includesa webbed channel which extends along the bottom of said cabinet andwhich pivotally supports a lever, said lever includes a long armgenerally parallel to said webs and a curved arm, said roller ispivotally supported by said curved arm in rolling engagement with saidcam notches, said long arm being spring loaded to urge said roller intosaid rolling engagement and movement of said cabinet between saidpositions of use causing pivotal action of said lever to allow saidroller to move between said notches.

1. A pivotally supported cabinet adapted for limited pivotal movementbetween a plurality of positions of use comprising; a cabinet structure,a bracket adapted to pivotally support said cabinet structure, saidbracket including a cabinet portion secured to said cabinet structureand a hanger portion adapted to be secured to a wall, a cam formed onsaid hanger portion defining a plurality of notches, and a resilientlymounted follower means secured to said cabinet portion in resilientcontact with said cam notches to releasably retain said cabinet in saidplurality of positions of use, opposite end notches of said camincluding a stop to prevent the movement of said follower means out ofeach said end notch in one direction to define the limits of pivotalmovement of said cabinet, one of said end notches further including aramp releasably retaining said follower means at a position in said oneend notch spaced from said stop to allow slight movement of saidfollower means toward said stop while said cabinet is in said positionof use defined by said one end notch.
 2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1wherein said hanger portion includes a vertical channel defining acontact surface at least one hook extends outwardly and upwardly of saidsurface at the upper end of said channel and defining a surface disposedin spaced relation to the said contact surface.
 3. A cabinet as claimedin claim 1 wherein said hanger portion includes a pair of generallyhorizontal supports extending outwardly in parallel spaced relation,said supports defining generally upwardly opening bearing apertures, oneof said supports including an edge defining said cam notches, andwherein said cabinet portion includes generally downwardly directedpivot pins pivotally supported in said bearing apertures.
 4. A cabinetas claimed in claim 1 wherein said cabinet portion includes a webbedchannel which extends along the bottom of said cabinet and whichpivotally supports a lever, said lever includes a long arm generallyparallel to said webs and a curved arm, said roller is pivotallysupported by said curved arm in rolling engagement with said camnotches, said long arm being spring loaded to urge said roller into saidrolling engagement and movement of said cabinet between said positionsof use causing pivotal action of said lever to allow said roller to movebetween said notches.